Arts North West CreativiTEA project returning to the region

 

Drake participant Jacqui Cee admiring her print with Lizzie Horne. Photo: Michèle Jedlicka for Arts North West.

 

Creating, talking, learning, and listening with others can be healing. The Arts North West CreativiTEA project is returning for a third round to small New England communities, offering regional women chance all these elements through free workshops.

This project’s third round will return to Torrington and Drake, and launch in Bundarra and Ben Lomond over 17-20 October.

The workshops provide women a day of beginning-level drypoint printmaking with Armidale artist Lizzie Horne, and time spent with familiar faces from the HNEH Rural Adversity Mental Health program (RAMHP). Local HealthWISE nurses have volunteered to be available for routine health checks as an added benefit.

CreativiTEA’s project officer Michèle Jedlicka has been on-board for all the workshops. She said the results have been delightful and inspiring.

“The drypoint process is so accessible, and provides women who have never tried a printmaking process a really beautiful entry-point. Plus, having the mental and physical health support not only on site, but taking part in the workshop alongside the participants has been special,” Michèle said.

Workshop facilitator Lizzie Horne said the buzz of excitement in the room as people’s ideas became images was like magic, and appreciated the energy among the women in the room.

“I just love the gasps of delight when someone pulls that first print off the press and sees the amazing art they have created!” Lizzie said.

“The camaraderie that is shared in the process of creation is like gold…the low ripple of laughter and chatter and satisfaction of making something beautiful.”

Lizzie stressed the printmaking project was more about expression than mastering the process.

“We aren’t looking for perfection, we’re looking at something that belongs uniquely to each person. And for that day, they are all artists!” she said.

All CreativiTEA workshops, materials, and catering are provided free, and RAMHP team members will be available for support beyond the workshop sessions for more support.

For workshop and booking information, go to www.artsnw.com.au/creativitea-2022 or phone Arts North West on 6732 4988.

The CreativiTEA project is supported by funding from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal through The Yulgilbar Foundation Fund.

Seventeen New England North West Creative Projects Funded By Arts North West

 
 

Seventeen creative endeavours have been successfully funded through the fourth round of the Arts North West Micro Grants program.

The first round of Micro Grants was announced in 2020 as direct response to the Coronavirus pandemic. Due to their popularity, Micro Grants have continued to be a regular fixture in Arts North West programming ever since. Currently, the fund has expended approximately $40,000 directly to supporting locally-determined community arts and cultural practice as the region continues to face uncertain times, most recently experiencing extensive flooding.

Arts North West recognises the effects of disaster on creatives and their arts practices, therefore this funding aims to be as flexible as possible, and projects do not require a specific outcome but can focus on skills development or capacity-building.

“We are still finding ourselves in very unusual times in the New England North West but our arts and cultural community is as vibrant as ever,” said Arts North West Executive Director, Lauren Mackley.

“We are absolutely thrilled at the response to this funding round. We received numerous quality applications from an incredibly talented and diverse group of people.”

The successful applicants are as follows:

Professional development

• Bronwyn Clarke (Armidale): The grant will enable attendance to a writing retreat/landscape research locale visit.

• Helena Pastor (Armidale): Professional development attending an ASA Professional Mentorship with Lee Kofman.

• Janna Hayes (Armidale): Attend an artist workshop with Julia Ross Allcorn to inform her first solo exhibition.

• Leah Bullen (Armidale): Undertake two online professional development opportunities.

• Tamworth Dramatic Society (Tamworth): TDS will fund up to three members to attend NIDA short courses to build their skills in directing, costume design, stage management, sound design and make up.

Music, performance, and theatre

• Barney Street Band (Armidale): Record an album at Al Heeney’s Keystone Recording Studio.

• Iter Novum Pty Ltd (Tamworth): 'You'll Miss the Tide Productions' will be developing and delivering a theatre production.

• Sarah Leete (Baan Baa): Venues hire, payment for support acts for local performances and marketing show for upcoming tour.

• Yulugi Marumali (Moree): 5 participants to attend Winangali Infusion’s Gamilaraay Gathering event in Boggabilla.

Materials and supplies

• Brigitte Brummell (Glen Innes): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Beatriz Alvarez (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Ebanita Sewa Emojong (Tamworth): The purchase of a new laptop.

• Edgar Alvarez Fine Art (Tamworth): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices.

• Glen Innes Pottery Club (Glen Innes): The purchase of a vacuum to remove silica dust from studio area.

• Julie Harris (Armidale): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts.

• Mona Fernando (Moree): Purchase arts supplies to extend and refine arts practices and deliver community workshops.

• Siobhan O'Hanlon (Armidale): Production and materials to develop a new collection of jewellery.

For more information, contact Lauren Mackley via rado@artsnw.com.au